JP2019178703A - Gas supply system, supply device for the same, supply method for the same and supply program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To ensure a gas stock in accordance with a gas demand and stabilize a gas price based on a gas usage tendency of a customer and a gas price, in gas supply processing.SOLUTION: A gas supply system includes: data measurement means (6) for outputting gas data which is obtained by measuring frequently a gas quantity in a gas vessel (14, 14-1, 14-2) installed to a gas supply destination; and a processing unit (10, 44) for calculating a gas shortage estimation date using gas quantity setting information that is determined in accordance with gas price information and the gas data, and generating gas supply instruction information based on the gas shortage estimation date.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, an exchange processing technique for an LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) container.

The LPG is loaded into a gas container such as a cylinder or cylinder and delivered to the user's eaves or the like. The amount of gas supplied to the user is set according to the amount of gas consumed, and usually a plurality of gas containers including a backup are installed. The gas container is exchanged by a delivery company before the gas runs out.
Concerning LPG remaining amount management, it can be consumed by the gas consuming equipment from the gas consumption detected by the flow rate measuring means arranged in the gas supply path between the gas container and the gas consuming equipment and the residual gas amount of the gas container. It is known to calculate and display the remaining time (for example, Patent Document 1).
Regarding gas container delivery prediction, it is known to predict the out-of-gassing date using a safety factor master and calculate the expected delivery date taking into account delivery efficiency and out-of-gassing risk (for example, Patent Document 2). .

JP, 2006-075366, A Japanese Patent No. 5802225

By the way, LPG is, for example, refined oil or produced from a natural gas field, and most of the raw materials and refined LPG are imported. The price for purchasing LPG and its raw materials fluctuates depending on, for example, the effect of crude oil prices and exchange rates, as well as the season, and this fluctuation also affects the price at which LPG is sold. In the purchase of LPG, the purchase amount is adjusted according to the price. For example, a large amount is purchased when the price is low, and a small amount is purchased when the price is high.
Thus, it is desirable that the LPG whose price fluctuates can cover even the gas demand when it is expensive by purchasing raw materials for a long period of time or LPG itself when it is inexpensive. However, there are limited facilities that can manage and store LPG and its raw materials in a safe state, and for the fee determination that is performed at a predetermined interval of about once a month for customers, for example. In this gas amount measurement, it is difficult to grasp and predict the gas demand with high accuracy, and therefore it is not possible to purchase a large amount of LPG and its raw material in a short time.
It is impractical to secure and manage a new storage facility and storage location for storing a large amount of LPG and its raw materials, both humanly and financially. Such an increase in cost may lead to an increase in gas prices.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose or suggest such requests or problems, and do not disclose or suggest a configuration for solving them.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to secure gas stock according to gas demand and stabilize gas prices based on the gas usage trends and gas prices of customers in gas supply processing. .

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas supply system of the present invention includes a data measuring means for outputting gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination, and gas price information. And a processing unit that calculates a gas outage estimation date using the gas amount setting information determined in accordance with the gas data and generates gas supply instruction information based on the gas outage estimation date.

In the gas supply system, the gas amount setting information may be any of a gas usage amount or a gas container usage number, a gas supply amount or a gas container replacement number, or a gas container installation number, or these And the gas amount setting information may be determined based on the amount of the gas price information.
The gas supply system may include a storage unit that stores user information including a gas supply amount, time information including at least a gas supply date, and the gas price information.
In the gas supply system, the processing unit may set the gas amount setting information based on a threshold value set for the gas price information.
In the gas supply system, the processing unit creates trend data representing a trend of transition of the amount of gas used or the amount of residual gas using the gas data, and the measurement time from the next time by the data measuring means based on the trend data. May be determined.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas supply device of the present invention includes a data acquisition unit that acquires, from a data measurement unit, gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination; A processing unit that calculates an estimated gas exhaustion date using the gas amount setting information determined according to the gas price information and the gas data, and generates gas supply instruction information based on the estimated gas exhaustion date;

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas supply method of the present invention is to frequently measure the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination, output gas data, and obtain gas price information. A step of calculating a gas outage estimation date using the gas amount setting information determined according to the gas price information and the gas data, and generating gas supply instruction information based on the gas outage estimation date Process.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the gas supply program of the present invention is a gas supply program to be realized by a computer, wherein gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination is obtained. A function of outputting, a function of calculating a gas outage estimation date using gas amount setting information determined according to gas price information and the gas data, and generating gas supply instruction information based on the gas outage estimation date; Is realized by the computer.

  According to the present invention, any of the following effects can be obtained.

(1) By determining the gas supply volume and usage volume, the number of gas containers installed and the number of gas containers to be used based on the gas usage status and gas price information, it is possible to suppress the effects on gas purchase price fluctuations. it can.
(2) By changing the gas supply volume and the number of gas containers installed according to the gas price, the gas is stocked at the user's eaves, etc., in addition to reducing the risk of running out of gas. Use plans can be set, and the delivery load can be reduced by suppressing the delivery frequency of supplying gas.
(3) By setting the gas usage and the number of gas containers to be used according to the gas price information, and calculating the estimated gas exhaustion date based on the gas usage and the number of gas usage, fluctuations in the gas price information Can be reduced.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clearer with reference to the accompanying drawings and each embodiment.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the gas supply system which concerns on one embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the frequency of gas data and gas amount measurement. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting of the gas quantity with respect to a gas price. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a gas supply process. It is a figure which shows an example of the gas container exchange system which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example on the data measurement side. It is a figure which shows the structural example by the side of a gas supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a user database and a gas amount database. It is a figure which shows an example of a gas container stock number database. It is a figure which shows the example of a fluctuation | variation of the stock number of the gas container according to a gas price. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the replacement plan of the gas container according to a gas price. It is a sequence diagram of a gas container exchange process. The structural example of the gas container exchange system which concerns on Example 2 is shown. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the replacement plan of the gas container according to a gas price. It is a sequence diagram of a gas container exchange process.

[One embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a gas supply system according to an embodiment. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
The gas supply system 2 measures gas data frequently for each user, calculates a user's out-of-gas date, and sets a gas supply date based on the gas data. As described above, the gas supply system 2 can estimate the gas use tendency by frequently measuring the gas amount, accurately estimate the gas exhaustion date, and reduce the residual gas amount in the gas container while preventing the gas exhaustion. It is an example of the system which instruct | indicates the supply of gas so that it may carry out. In addition, the gas supply system 2 acquires price information required for the purchase of gas and its raw materials, changes the gas supply amount and the number of installed gas containers according to the price required for the purchase, or is stocked. Set up a plan to use the amount of stock gas that is in stock, and execute gas supply processing that suppresses the impact of price information fluctuations.
The gas supply system 2 includes a gas supply device 4 and data measurement means 6 as shown in FIG. The gas supply device 4 includes, for example, a processing unit 10 and a storage unit 12. The data measuring means 6 includes a gas meter 8, for example. The gas supply device 4 is connected to the gas meter 8 by wireless or wired communication, and receives gas data and transmits gas supply instruction information including gas supply to the gas container 14 and replacement processing of the gas container 14.

The gas supply device 4 performs a gas supply amount, exchange management of the gas container 14, and the like. The gas supply device 4 is connected to an external database 16 as an example of an information source, and acquires gas price information such as the purchase price of gas and its raw materials. The external database 16 includes, for example, a database managed by an organization that purchases gas and its raw materials, and information on an organization that provides services that manage and provide information such as crude oil prices.
The gas supply device 4 generates, for each user, gas amount setting information determined according to price information, and generates gas supply instruction information based on the estimated gas exhaustion date calculated by taking this gas amount setting information into consideration. To do. The gas amount setting information includes, for example, any information such as the gas supply amount and the number of gas containers 14 installed, the gas usage amount and the number of gas containers 14 used, or two or more of these information. Is determined based on the amount of gas price information.
The processing unit 10 of the gas supply device 4 is an example of a calculation unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the measured gas data Si of the currently used gas container 14 is integrated, and gas is measured based on the capacity of the gas container. The cut estimated date dxi is calculated. The day when the gas supply including the replacement of the gas container 14 is performed is, for example, the gas outage estimation date dx calculated when the remaining gas amount becomes smaller than a predetermined value as a result of continuing the measurement of the gas data. Set a few days ago.
The storage unit 12 stores, for example, the gas data Si acquired from the data measuring means 6, the gas usage for each user, the number of installed gas containers 14, historical data indicating the past gas usage, from the external database 16. The acquired gas price information is stored.

<Regarding the Data Measuring Unit 6 and Gas Container 14 Side>
The data measuring means 6 and the gas container 14 are arranged in a predetermined place such as a user's building or the eaves of the user, for example. Here, the user who receives the gas supply is not limited to a single building owned by an individual or the household, but includes a case where gas is shared by a plurality of households or buildings. It refers to an object that provides services for supply and installation or replacement of the gas container 14. The gas container 14 is an example of means for storing the LPG supplied to the user in a stable state, and the volume and the number of installed containers represent the amount of LPG supplied to the user.
The gas container 14 is connected to a gas device that is a gas consumption destination through a gas supply path (not shown).
The gas meter 8 measures the flow rate of the gas G flowing through the gas supply path to the gas equipment side at a predetermined frequency. The data measuring means 6 transmits the gas data measured by the gas meter 8 to the gas supply device 4 side sequentially or at a predetermined timing. The frequency and timing at which the data measuring means 6 transmits the gas data, and the measurement frequency by the gas meter 8 are estimated from, for example, the user's gas usage trend information (trend data) based on the amount of gas used and the like. It may be set depending on the amount of remaining gas or whether the estimated date of out of gas estimated from trend data is near.

  One or a plurality of gas containers 14 are installed for each user. The number of installations may be a fixed value, for example, or may be increased or decreased according to the gas price. Further, when a plurality of gas containers 14 are provided, for example, a gas container for supplying gas G to a gas device and an auxiliary gas container for backing up the gas exhaustion of the gas container for supplying may be used. . For example, the supply gas container and the auxiliary gas container may be connected to the gas supply pipe with a switch or the like interposed therebetween. In addition, for example, replacement stock stock may be installed in the user's premises. As the gas container 14, a gas container having a large volume may be used, or a plurality of gas containers having a small volume may be installed. When a plurality of gas containers are installed, all the gas containers 14 are not limited to the same volume. You may install the gas container 14 of a different volume together.

<About gas data Si>
In the measurement of the gas amount, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, if the maximum value of the gas amount in the gas container 14 is Gmax, the measured gas amount is gi, and the integrated value is Σgi, The amount of gas Gi remaining in
Gi = Gmax−Σgi (1)
(Where i = 1, 2,..., N).
The gas container 14 to be measured may be determined by gas amount setting information set based on the gas price, for example. That is, the gas amount determined by the number set as usable gas containers 14 is the maximum value Gmax. The gas data Si acquired at a predetermined interval is accumulated, for example, in time series.
The processing unit 10 calculates, for example, an estimated gas exhaustion date dxi estimated at a time point ti for a gas container currently in use or a gas container held by a user. In the calculation of the estimated gas deficiency date dxi, for example, a plurality of gas data Si measured from the start of measurement of the gas container to the time point ti are used to read the decreasing tendency (usage tendency) of the gas and based on the decreasing tendency. What is necessary is just to estimate the out-of-gassing estimated date when there is no remaining gas.
In addition, in the calculation of the estimated gas exhaustion date dxi, in addition to the case of calculating from the gas decreasing trend, the estimated gas exhaustion date dxi may be calculated by predicting the gas usage trend after the time point ti in combination with past measurement information. Good.
In addition, the processing unit 10 may determine the next and subsequent measurement timings by the data measurement unit 6 including the gas meter 8 based on trend data representing the gas usage trend up to the time point ti, for example. The determined measurement timing may be transmitted from the gas supply device 4 as measurement instruction information for the data measuring means 6.

<Replacement of gas container 14>
In the data processing of the gas supply device 4, for example, a. Acquisition of gas data Si, b. Accumulation of gas data Si, c. Acquisition of gas price information, d. Determination of gas volume setting information according to the gas price information, e. Calculation of estimated gas outage date dx, f. Other data processing is included.
a. Acquisition of Gas Data Si The processing unit 10 acquires and collects the gas data Si from the data measuring means 6 continuously or discontinuously.
b. Accumulation of Gas Data Si Gas data Si collected by the processing unit 10 is accumulated in the storage unit 12.
c. Acquisition of Gas Price Information The processing unit 10 accesses the external database 16 and acquires gas price information at a predetermined time. This gas price information includes, for example, gas sales price and cost information necessary for purchase at the time of collecting gas data Si, history information of gas sales price and purchase cost required for past gas purchase, or Use future price information from futures trading.
d. Determination of gas amount setting information according to the gas price information The processing unit 10 determines the set number representing the amount of gas provided to the user or the amount of gas usable by the user according to the amount of the acquired gas price information.

e. Calculation of Gas Outage Estimated Date dx The processing unit 10 calculates a gas consumption tendency from, for example, a plurality of stored gas data Si, and calculates an out of gas estimated date dx based on the value of the gas amount setting information. The calculated out-of-gas date dx is stored in the storage unit 12 for each user.

f. Other data processing The processing unit 10 stores, for example, the calculated out-of-gassing estimated date dx in the storage unit 12, and notifies the user or the delivery person of the gas or gas container 14 of the information of the out-of-gassing estimated date dx. Also good. In the notification of the estimated out-of-gas date dx, for example, information may be presented at the time of calculation, or information may be presented by approaching the out-of-gas date from a plurality of calculation results.
Furthermore, the processing unit 10 sets measurement instruction information for setting the timing of the next gas measurement based on, for example, the gas usage tendency calculated from the acquired gas data Si, or for changing the gas measurement date set in advance. What is necessary is just to produce | generate and transmit toward the data measurement means 6.

<Changes in gas volume setting information with respect to gas price information>
FIG. 3 shows an example of the gas amount setting with respect to the gas price.
In FIG. 3A, for example, the elapsed time is set on the horizontal axis and the gas price information P is set on the vertical axis, and the gas price information before and after the reference date such as the gas outage replacement date dx is calculated. The transition of is shown. In FIG. 3B, gas amount setting information set according to the gas price information is shown.
The processing unit 10 of the gas supply device 4 refers to the gas price information on the base date t as shown in FIG. Then, when the gas price is the low value Pa on the reference date t, the processing unit 10 sets the set value Ma so that the gas amount Gu increases as the gas amount setting information of the gas container as shown in FIG. 3B. . Further, when the gas price is a high value Pb on the reference date t, the processing unit 10 sets the set value Mb so that the gas amount Gu is reduced as the gas amount setting information of the gas container as shown in FIG. (Pa <Pb, Ma> Mb). This gas amount Gu is, for example, a value that affects the maximum gas amount Gmax representing the total gas amount used in the calculation of the out-of-gassing estimated date dx and the number information of the gas containers 14.
That is, in the gas container replacement process, the gas amount is increased when the gas price is low, and the number of gas containers 14 to be provided to the user is set large. When the gas price is high, the gas amount is decreased, Further, the number of gas containers 14 provided to the user is set to be small.

<Gas supply processing>
FIG. 4 shows an example of the gas supply process. The processing content and processing procedure shown in FIG. 4 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. This gas supply process is an example of the gas supply method of this invention, or the gas supply program performed using a computer.
The data measuring means 6 measures the amount of gas such as the flow rate of gas flowing through the gas equipment or the amount of residual gas in the gas container 14, and generates gas data Si from this amount of gas (S11).
The processing unit 10 acquires gas price information from the external database 16 (S12), and determines gas amount setting information according to the gas price information (S13).
The gas supply device 4 uses the gas data Si acquired from the data measuring means 6 at the set timing and the gas amount setting information of the gas to calculate the gas usage tendency, and the gas based on the gas usage tendency The estimated cut date dxi is calculated (S14). This out-of-gassing estimated date dxi is calculated using, for example, gas data measured from the gas container 14 in use or gas data based on either the gas amount of all gas containers held by the user. The processing unit 10 may calculate the remaining gas amount at the time point ti when the gas data is measured.
And the process part 10 produces | generates the gas container replacement | exchange instruction | indication information containing an out-of-gas estimated date, the remaining gas amount, the replacement date of the gas container 14, etc. (S15). This gas container replacement instruction information is notified to the user, and is also notified to the operator who performs the delivery and replacement work of the gas container 14.

[Effect of one embodiment]
According to this embodiment, one of the following effects can be expected.
(1) By using a gas container replacement instruction in combination with the user's gas volume set based on gas price information and the measured gas data, gas usage and replacement processing corresponding to gas price fluctuations is executed. And convenience is enhanced.
(2) Based on the gas price information, by adjusting the amount of gas that can be used by the user and the amount of gas provided to the user, it is possible to suppress the increase in cost due to fluctuations in the gas price or the effect of the gas price on the user it can.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration example of the gas container replacement system according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
This gas container replacement system 20 is an example of the gas supply system of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the number of gas containers 14 supplied is adjusted according to the gas price as a gas supply process for the user. . That is, the number of gas containers 14 managed by the gas container replacement system 20 represents, for example, the amount of gas supplied to the user and the amount of gas used by the user. The gas container replacement system 20 is a management center that outputs a delivery instruction for the gas container 14 and stores a delivery base 22 that stores a large number of gas containers 14, and vehicles and delivery personnel that deliver the gas containers 14 from the delivery base 22. The delivery means 24 includes. The delivery base 22 acquires gas data from the data measuring means 6 installed in the buildings of the users X and Y, for example, and acquires information such as the amount of gas used and the amount of residual gas. For example, the delivery base 22 grasps a user whose gas exhaustion estimation date calculated based on the gas data is close, and executes a gas container replacement process for the user.
The delivery base 22 sets the number information of the gas containers 14 to be delivered to the delivery means 24 based on the gas price information, and outputs the gas supply instruction information including the number of the gas containers to be provided and the delivery route. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the gas container replacement system 20 replaces the same number or more of the same gas containers 14 as before the replacement when the gas price Pa on the determination date is lower than the reference value Px. Set as number. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas container replacement system 20 replaces the number less than the number of the gas containers 14 before the replacement when the gas price Pb on the determination date is higher than the reference value Px. Set as number. The determination of the gas price may be, for example, when the gas container is replaced or when the estimated date of gas exhaustion is calculated. For example, when the gas price is the same or equivalent to the reference value Px, the gas container replacement system 20 may set the same number as the number of gas containers 14 before replacement as the number of replacement. The number of exchanges set here is an example of gas amount setting information.
The reference value Px for comparing the gas prices may be, for example, a preset threshold value, or may be price information at the previous gas container replacement or price information set at a predetermined time before the replacement. That is, in the gas container replacement system 20, the amount of gas stocked at the user's eaves is changed by changing the number of gas containers to be provided according to the gas price at the time of determination.
Furthermore, in this gas container replacement system 20, the process for setting the replacement timing of the gas container according to the gas price information is performed.

<Configuration of Data Measuring Unit 6 and Gas Container 14>
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the data measuring means 6 includes a gas meter 8 including a data measuring unit 26 and a data acquiring unit 28. Moreover, the data measuring means 6 is communicating with the gas supply apparatus 4 side through the communication part 30-1.
The data measuring unit 26 measures, for example, the gas flow rate flowing through the gas devices 34-1, 34-2,... Through the gas supply path 32 through which the gas container 14 is connected and flows the gas G at a predetermined frequency and timing. . The frequency and timing of measurement may be set, for example, on the data measuring means 6 side, or may be calculated and set on the gas supply device 4 side that performs gas container replacement processing.
The gas container 14 installed in the user's site is divided into, for example, a necessary gas container E1 and a stock gas container E2. The necessary gas container E <b> 1 is a gas container that is connected to the gas supply path 32 and is set in a state where gas can be supplied to the gas device 34. The necessary gas container E1 is provided with, for example, a gas container 14-1 for supplying gas G to the gas equipment and a gas container 14-2 for backing up the gas out of the gas container 14-1. When the gas container 14-1 runs out of gas, the switch 36 switches from the gas container 14-1 as the gas supply source to the gas container 14-2 on the backup side, and from the gas container 14-2 to the gas device 34. Gas G is supplied.
The stock gas container E2 is an example of the gas containers 14 that are more than the required number of the required gas containers E1 among the gas containers owned by the user, and is used for replacement when the gas in the necessary gas containers E1 becomes empty. Used as stock stock. For example, the number of stock gas containers E2 that can be installed on a site owned or managed by the user, or the number set by a contract between the gas supply company and the user is installed. The gas containers 14-3,..., 14-N included in the stock gas container E2 may be connected to the gas supply path 32, or placed in the user's site without being connected to the gas supply path 32. It may only be burned.
The number of gas containers 14 including the stock gas container E2 is stored in the gas container possession number information 74 (FIG. 8) of the user database 50.

The data acquisition unit 28 is an example of a unit that collects measurement results from the data measurement unit 26 and generates gas data to be notified to the gas supply device 4 side. For example, the data acquisition unit 28 may constitute a data repeater together with the communication unit 30-1 or may be configured inside the gas meter 8.
The communication unit 30-1 is an example of a unit that transmits and receives instruction information such as gas data and measurement timing between the data measurement unit 6 and the gas supply device 4. This communication part 30-1 communicates with the communication part 30-2 (FIG. 7) installed in the gas supply apparatus 4, for example. The communication units 30-1 and 30-2 may use a network communication line such as a general telephone line, a mobile phone line, and the Internet, an infrared communication, a dedicated wired line, an optical communication line, and the like. The transmitted / received gas data is used to calculate the estimated gas out date of the gas container 14. This gas data includes, for example, gas flow measurement values, gas usage, residual gas volume, load survey and gas meter 8 output pulses, data indicating gas usage and residual gas volume as well as measurement values, alarm information, Any of the pressure in a container showing the amount of gas used and the amount of residual gas may be sufficient, and the data which combined these 2 or more may be sufficient.
For example, the gas supply device 4 notifies the communication terminal device 40 of the gas price information in addition to the information on the calculated estimated gas exhaustion date and the gas container replacement instruction information which is an example of the gas supply instruction information. You may notify the side. The data measuring means 6 may be provided with a display function in a display means (not shown) or a part of the gas meter 8 for notifying the user of information including, for example, gas price information and gas container replacement date.
The communication terminal device 40 is, for example, a communication device installed in a vehicle as the delivery means 24 or a mobile phone possessed by the deliverer, and the user to be exchanged, its delivery route, the number of containers to be arranged The exchange instruction information including the above is notified. The communication terminal device 40 includes, for example, a dedicated terminal device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a mobile PC (Personal Computer).

<Configuration on the gas supply device 4 side>
For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the gas supply device 4 is configured in a delivery base 22, and is formed in a management center that manages and monitors each delivery base 22.
For example, the gas supply device 4 receives the gas data measured by the data measuring unit 6 through the communication unit 30-2, and necessary information is read through the data acquisition unit 42. Moreover, the gas supply apparatus 4 acquires gas price information from the external database 16 through the communication unit 30-2.
The data acquisition unit 42 is, for example, a process for calculating an estimated out-of-gas date, a process for setting an out-of-gas date, a process for setting a gas container replacement date, an inventory gas container, etc. It is an example of a functional unit for extracting or organizing data necessary for the calculation process of gas, the calculation process of gas charges, and the like. The gas data extracted or arranged by the data acquisition unit 42 is used by the data processing unit 44 for processing such as calculation of the estimated gas exhaustion date. The gas data, the estimated out-of-gas date, the gas price information, and the like are stored in the storage unit 46.
Moreover, the display part 48 is installed in the gas supply apparatus 4, for example. The display unit 48 displays, for example, the gas data acquisition state, the estimated out-of-gas date calculated by the data processing unit 44, the presence / absence of a stock gas container, gas price information, as well as the gas container in the area where the delivery base or the delivery person is in charge. The stock status display screen of the is displayed. Information displayed on the display unit 48 is notified to the communication terminal device 40, for example.
The storage unit 46 includes, for example, a user database 50 (A in FIG. 8), a gas amount database 52 (B in FIG. 8), a gas container stock number database 54 (FIG. 9), and a gas container replacement which is an example of gas supply instruction information. Instruction information 56 and the like are stored.

The gas supply device 4 is configured by a computer, and the control unit 60 includes a processor 62, a memory unit 64, an input / output unit (I / O) 66, and the like as shown in FIG. 7B, for example.
The processor 62 is an example of a calculation means, and generates an OS (Operating System) executed in the memory unit 64, various firmware programs, gas container management based on gas data, gas outage estimation date calculation, and a gas container replacement instruction. Performs arithmetic processing of various programs such as a gas supply program. Further, the processor 62 sets the measurement frequency for the gas meter 8 and outputs a gas data transmission instruction according to the program to be executed, as well as display control for the display unit 48 and functional units connected via the I / O 66. To control.
The memory unit 64 is an example of a work area that executes an OS and various programs. For the memory unit 64, for example, a storage element such as a RAM (Random-Access Memory) is used. The processor 62 and the memory unit 64 function as the data processing unit 44 and the data acquisition unit 42 of the gas supply device 4 by executing various programs.
The storage unit 46 is an example of a unit that stores various programs for causing the gas supply device 4 to function and gas data acquired by the gas meter. For example, ROM (Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only) Memory).

  The I / O 66 is an example of an interface for connecting the gas supply device 4 and an external device. The I / O 66 is connected to, for example, an external device through a wired connection such as a serial cable, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, or a communication cable, as well as wireless communication such as a telephone line and an Internet line, infrared communication, and optical communication. Etc., which are connected by The gas supply device 4 includes, for example, an input operation device for writing information via the I / O 66, and an external storage device that transmits and receives gas price information used for calculating a gas exhaustion estimated date and a gas charge. Etc. may be connected.

<Configuration example of user database 50>
FIG. 8A shows the user database 50. The user database 50 stores, for example, user name information 71, address information 72, assigned area information 73, gas container possession number information 74, gas container installable number information 75, and the like.
The user name information 71 is an ID (Identification) for identifying a user who is a target of the gas container replacement process. The user name information 71 includes, for example, information for identifying an installed gas container, or may store only gas container identification information instead of the user name.
The address information 72 is information indicating a place where the gas container 14 is installed, and is an example of information for specifying a delivery destination of the gas container 14 in the gas supply process.
The assigned area information 73 includes, for example, information indicating a delivery base in charge of delivery or information specifying a delivery area by subdividing the delivery destination of the gas container 14.
In the gas container possession number information 74, for example, the number information of the currently installed gas containers 14 is stored. That is, the gas container possession number information 74 represents the amount of gas that the user has at the eaves. The gas container possession number information 74 is updated when the number of gas containers 14 provided varies due to the variation in gas price information.
The gas container installable number information 75 stores the size of a site such as a place or facility designated for each user and the number information set by a contract with a gas provider. That is, the gas container installable number information 75 is the maximum number information of the gas containers 14 that can be provided. In the gas container replacement process, for example, if the gas price information drops, the gas container possession number information 74 can be installed to confirm whether the number of installed gas containers can be increased, that is, the amount of gas supply can be increased. It is confirmed whether or not it matches the number information 75.

<Configuration example of gas amount database 52>
The gas amount database 52 is an example of a database that stores information including measured gas data. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, user name information 81, measured value information 82, out-of-gassing estimated date information 83, gas Container number information 84, measurement date information 85, gas container replacement date information 86, and the like are included.
The user name information 81 is an ID (Identification) for identifying a user who is a target of the gas container replacement process.
The measurement value information 82 is information acquired from the gas meter 8 and is an example of gas data of the present invention.
The out of gas estimation date information 83 stores the out of gas estimation date calculated using the gas container number information 84 set according to the measured gas data and gas price information. The estimated gas exhaustion date information 83 is an example of timing information that serves as a reference for setting the gas supply date. The set estimated gas exhaustion date may be set to the gas supply date, or about a predetermined number of days from the estimated date. You may set on a gas supply day.
As the number information 84 of gas containers, for example, the number information set based on the gas price information among the gas containers 14 installed at the eaves of the user is stored. The gas supply device 4 adjusts the number of gas containers 14 to be used, for example, by setting all the gas containers 14 installed according to the gas price to be usable or setting only a part of the gas containers 14 to be usable. I do. In the gas container replacement process, the number of gas amounts stored in the number information 84 of the gas containers may be applied as the value of the maximum gas amount Gmax for calculating the estimated gas exhaustion date. That is, when only the necessary number used by the user is installed at the eaves, the value of the gas container number information 84 and the value of the gas container holding number information 74 of the user database 50 are the same number. On the other hand, when the user stocks more than the number of gas containers used in advance, the number information 84 of the gas containers stores a number smaller than the number information 74 of the gas containers possessed in the user database 50.
The measurement date information 85 stores information on the date or date when the gas meter 8 performs measurement.
The gas container replacement date information 86 is an example of gas supply date timing information, for example, and stores history information of the previous gas container replacement date and previous gas container replacement dates.

  In addition, although the user database 50 and the gas amount database 52 showed the case where several user information was displayed side by side, it is not restricted to this. These databases may store current data and past data together for each user, for example. Further, the previous or previous gas container replacement date information may be stored in the user database 50, for example.

<Configuration Example of Gas Container Stock Number Database 54>
The gas container stock number database 54 is an example of a database that sets the number of gas containers 14 to be provided to the user. As shown in FIG. 9, the gas container stock number database 54 includes, for example, gas price information 91 and gas container stock number information 92.
The gas price information 91 stores, for example, a gas price acquired from the external database 16 at a predetermined timing, an increase / decrease amount with respect to a predetermined reference value, or the like.
The gas container stock number information 92 stores the number of stocks of the gas container 14 set according to the changed gas price or the number of increase / decrease thereof. As a result, in the gas supply process, the number of gas containers 14 delivered last time or the reference gas based on the gas price at the time of generating the estimated date of gas exhaustion or generating the replacement information of the gas containers 14. The number of containers 14 may be determined by referring to the gas container stock number information 92 for the number of containers 14.

<Setting the number of gas container stocks for fluctuations in gas price information>
In the gas container replacement process, for example, the number set according to the gas price information 91 is provided with reference to the gas container stock number database 54. As a result, the gas container 14 is stocked at the user's eaves according to the gas price.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the gas price is a high value Pα, the gas supply device 4 has a number of inventory gas containers E2 with respect to the gas containers 14-1 and 14-2 that are the necessary gas containers E1. Is set to “+1”, the gas container 14-3 is delivered, or the user who already has the gas container 14-3 maintains the state as it is.
Further, when the gas price fluctuates to a value Pβ lower than Pα, the gas supply device 4 has a larger number of stock gas containers E2 than the case where the gas price is Pα as shown in FIG. +3 ". Thereby, for example, in addition to the gas containers 14-1 and 14-2 of the necessary gas container E1, the gas containers 14-3, 14-4, and 14-5 of the inventory gas container E2 are delivered to the user. When the stock gas container E2 is already held, if the number of difference from the set number or the stock is larger than the set number, the current state may be maintained or the number may be reduced.

<About setting the number of gas containers used>
For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the gas supply device 4 sets the number of gas containers 14 to be used for the user. This usage number is an example of the gas amount setting information of the present invention, and is set according to the gas price information. The number of gas containers 14 used is stored in the gas container number information 84 as described above, and is used as the maximum gas amount Gmax in the calculation of the estimated gas exhaustion date.
That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the gas supply device 4 sets the number of used gas containers to “2” when the gas price is a low value Pβ in the calculation process of the estimated gas exhaustion date. To do. Here, the number of gas used is set to be the same as the number of necessary gas containers E1. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the gas supply device 4 sets the number of gas containers to be used to “5” when the gas price fluctuates and becomes a high value Py. Thus, in the calculation process of the estimated gas exhaustion date, the number of gas containers 14 installed at the eaves of the user is reduced when the gas price is low, and the number of gas containers 14 is increased when the gas price is high.
The number of gas containers used may be reduced from “5” to “3”.

  As described above, in the gas container replacement process, when the gas price is low, a large number of gas containers 14 are stocked at the eaves of the user, and the number of gas containers used by the user is reduced and the gas containers are replaced frequently. Further, when the gas price becomes high, the number of gas containers delivered for stock is reduced, and the number used by the user is increased, so that the stock gas containers E2 stocked at the eaves are used. As a result, when the gas price is high, the purchase amount of gas is reduced and the number of times of gas delivery is adjusted to be reduced.

<About gas container replacement processing>
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of gas container replacement processing. The processing content and processing procedure shown in FIG. 12 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. This gas container replacement process is an example of a gas supply program executed using the gas supply method of the present invention or a computer.
The gas meter 8 constituting the data measuring means 6 measures the amount of gas such as the flow rate of gas flowing through the gas device 34 or the amount of residual gas in the gas container 14 (S21), and generates gas data from this amount of gas (S22). .
The gas supply device 4 acquires and accumulates gas data from the gas meter 8 side at the set timing (S23), and accesses the external database 16 to acquire gas price information (S24). The gas supply device 4 determines the stock number of gas containers and the number of gas containers to be used according to the acquired gas price (S25), and uses the number of gas containers to be used and the gas data to estimate the out-of-gas date dxi. Is calculated (S26).
And the gas supply apparatus 4 produces | generates the gas container replacement | exchange instruction information which is an example of gas supply instruction | indication information, for example, when the out-of-gassing estimated date dxi is near (S27), and the communication terminal device 40 installed in the delivery means 24 is made. The gas container replacement instruction information is transmitted (S28), and the gas exhaustion estimated date, the usable number, the number of gas container replacements, and the like are displayed on the display unit 48 (S29).

  In the first embodiment, the case where the user database 50, the gas amount database 52, and the gas container stock number database 54 specify the gas amount held by the user by the number of the gas containers 14 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Each database may store, for example, the amount of gas held.

<Effect of Example 1>
According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) By combining the gas consumption based on the gas price information with the measured gas data and instructing the replacement of the gas container, the gas can be used and replaced in response to fluctuations in the gas price. Is increased.
(2) By increasing the amount of gas at the eaves of each user, more gas can be purchased when the gas price is low.
(3) By using the stocked gas when the gas price is high, it is possible to provide efficient gas including gas purchase corresponding to fluctuations in gas price and gas delivery cost reduction.
(4) In addition to reducing the risk of running out of gas by changing the number of gas containers installed according to the price of gas and stocking gas containers at the user's eaves, etc., there is a plan for using gas containers including this stock. It can be set, and the delivery load can be reduced by suppressing the gas delivery frequency.
(5) By storing stock gas containers at the user's eaves when the gas price is low, it is possible to store energy that can be used in the event of an emergency such as a disaster.

FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration example of the gas container replacement system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 13, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
This gas container replacement system 100 is an example of the gas supply system of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a predetermined number of gas containers 14-1, 14 among the gas containers 14 held by the user. -2, gas container replacement processing is performed according to the amount of gas price information.

<Setting the number of gas container replacement>
When the gas supply device 4 determines that the estimated gas exhaustion date is close by frequent measurement of the gas meter 8, the gas supply device 4 refers to the acquired gas price information and sets the number of gas container replacements as an example of the gas amount setting information. .
For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, the gas supply device 4 sets the number of gas container replacements to “1” when the gas price is a value Pα higher than a predetermined reference value in the calculation process of the estimated gas exhaustion date. Set and generate gas container replacement instruction information. Based on this instruction information, in the gas container replacement process, only part of the gas containers 14-1 installed at the eaves of the user are replaced. As the gas container to be replaced, for example, a gas container whose remaining amount is “0” may be selected, or a gas container currently in use may be replaced.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 14B, the gas supply device 4 sets the number of gas container replacements to “2” when the gas price is a value Pz lower than a predetermined reference value in the calculation process for the estimated gas exhaustion date. To generate gas container replacement instruction information, which is an example of gas supply instruction information. Based on this instruction information, in the gas container replacement process, the two gas containers 14-1 and 14-2 installed at the user's eaves are replaced.
Note that the number of gas containers 14 to be exchanged is, for example, the number of gas containers 14 connected to the gas supply path 32 and whose usage is managed by the gas meter 8, or a stock gas container E2 (not shown). The number of gas containers 14 may be set in advance, and is not limited to the “two” illustrated.

<About gas container replacement processing>
FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of gas container replacement processing. The processing content and processing procedure shown in FIG. 15 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. This gas container replacement process is an example of a gas supply program executed using the gas supply method of the present invention or a computer.
The gas meter 8 measures a gas amount such as a gas flow rate flowing through the gas device 34 or a residual gas amount in the gas container 14 (S31), and generates gas data from the gas amount (S32).
The gas supply device 4 acquires and accumulates gas data from the gas meter 8 side at the set timing (S33), and calculates the out-of-gassing date dxi using the gas data (S34). Further, the gas supply device 4 accesses the external database 16 to acquire gas price information (S35), and determines the number of gas container replacements according to the gas price (S36).
And the gas supply apparatus 4 produces | generates gas container replacement | exchange instruction information, for example, when the gas shortage estimation date dxi is near (S37), and transmits gas container replacement | exchange instruction information to the communication terminal device 40 installed in the delivery means 24. Along with (S38), the date of gas exhaustion, the number of gas container replacements, and the like are displayed on the display unit 48 (S39).
<Effect of Example 2>
According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The number of gas containers to be replaced is adjusted according to the gas price information, so that many gas containers are not purchased when the gas price is soaring, and the cost can be reduced.
(2) By exchanging only the minimum necessary number when the gas price is high and shortening the gas container replacement interval, it is possible to improve the efficiency of purchasing and exchanging gas containers in response to fluctuations in gas prices.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment and Example 1, the case where the change in the number of stocks is set using the gas price information acquired at the time of calculating the gas exhaustion estimated date or at the time of replacing the gas container has been shown. . The gas price information used to calculate the estimated gas exhaustion date is based on, for example, the gas price information on a predetermined day by using the past gas price information or information representing the change of the gas price information, and based on the predicted gas price information. The calculation of the estimated gas exhaustion date, the number of gas container replacements, and the number of stocks may be set.

  (2) In the above embodiment and example, in addition to gas price information, for example, the amount of gas stock in the delivery base 22 that delivers the gas container 14 to a specific user, or the entire gas purchase by a plurality of delivery bases 22 Gas supply instruction information and gas container replacement instruction information may be generated by setting the number of gas containers 14 to be replaced in consideration of the amount (for example, the total amount of gas stock in Japan). In other words, in the gas container replacement process, along with the gas fee required for gas purchase, the number of stocks of gas containers 14 stocked at one or more delivery bases is large and small, depending on the user's eaves. The number of stocks may be adjusted, or the number of gas containers to be replaced may be adjusted.

  (3) In the above-described embodiments and examples, the case where the gas price information acquired at the time of calculation of the estimated gas exhaustion date or the replacement of the gas container is used as the gas price information is not limited to this. In the gas container replacement process, for example, price information at the time of purchase may be associated with the gas container 14 and the gas container replacement process may be calculated using the price information at the time of actual purchase.

  (4) The gas supply device 4 notifies the gas outage estimation date and the gas container replacement date information to, for example, the gas meter 8 installed at the user's eaves, the data measuring means 6 or the portable terminal device possessed by the user. The gas price information, the number of stock gas containers E2, the number of installed gas containers, the number of replacement gas containers, and the amount of usable residual gas may be displayed. In addition to the gas price information and the number information of the gas containers, for example, the gas supply device 4 may generate and display the gas usage tendency information and the advice information for improving the gas for the user.

  In the above-described embodiment and examples, the case where the gas container 14 is delivered and replaced with an empty container at the user's eaves in the gas supply process has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The gas container 14 may be, for example, a large storage tank fixedly installed at the user's eaves. In the gas supply process, for example, the delivery means 24 loaded with replenishing gas may be directed toward the user's storage tank and the storage tank may be directly filled with gas. In the gas supply process, the gas supply amount to be replenished from the delivery means 24 to the storage tank may be set according to the amount of gas price information. Of the amount of gas stored in the storage tank, the gas price You may set the usage-amount of gas according to information.

As described above, the most preferable embodiment of the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above description. Various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or disclosed in the embodiments for carrying out the invention. It goes without saying that such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention.

The gas supply system, gas supply apparatus, gas supply method, or gas supply program of the present invention obtains gas price information necessary for gas purchase, and in this gas amount monitoring process such as calculation of an estimated gas exhaustion date. Since the amount of gas supply, the number of gas containers to be replaced, and the number of stocks are set according to the amount of gas price information, it is beneficial because the number of stocks corresponding to gas price fluctuations can be secured and the cost of gas supply processing can be reduced.

2 Gas supply system 4 Gas supply device 6 Data measuring means 8 Gas meter 10 Processing unit 12, 46 Storage unit 14, 14-1, 14-2, ... 14-N Gas container 16 External database 20, 100 Gas container replacement system DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Delivery base 24 Delivery means 26 Data measurement part 28 Data acquisition part 30-1, 30-2 Communication part 32 Gas supply path 34, 34-1 and 34-2 Gas equipment 36 Switching device 40 Communication terminal apparatus 42 Data acquisition part 44 Data processing unit 48 Display unit 50 User database 52 Gas amount database 54 Gas container stock number database 60 Control unit 62 Processor 64 Memory unit 66 I / O
71 User name information 72 Address information 73 Responsible area information 74 Gas container possession number information 75 Gas container installation number information 81 User name information 82 Measurement value information 83 Gas outage estimation date information 84 Gas container number information 85 Measurement date information 91 Gas Price information 92 Gas container stock information

Claims (8)

Data measuring means for outputting gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination;
A processing unit that calculates a gas outage estimation date using gas amount setting information determined according to gas price information and the gas data, and generates gas supply instruction information based on the gas outage estimation date;
A gas supply system comprising: The gas amount setting information is either the amount of gas used or the number of gas containers used, the amount of gas supplied or the number of gas container replacements, the number of gas containers installed, or a combination of two or more of these. Information
The gas supply system according to claim 1, wherein the gas amount setting information is determined based on the amount of the gas price information.   The gas supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores user information including a gas supply amount, time information including at least a gas supply date, and the gas price information.   4. The gas supply system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets the gas amount setting information based on a threshold value set for the gas price information. 5. .   The processing unit creates trend data representing a trend of transition of gas usage or residual gas by using the gas data, and determines a measurement time from the next time by the data measuring means based on the trend data. The gas supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A data acquisition means for acquiring gas data obtained by frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination from a data measurement means;
A processing unit that calculates a gas outage estimation date using gas amount setting information determined according to gas price information and the gas data, and generates gas supply instruction information based on the gas outage estimation date;
A gas supply device comprising: A process of frequently measuring the amount of gas in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination and outputting gas data;
A process for obtaining gas price information;
Calculating a gas outage estimation date using the gas amount setting information determined according to the gas price information and the gas data;
Generating gas supply instruction information based on the estimated gas exhaustion date;
A gas supply method comprising: A gas supply program to be realized by a computer,
A function for outputting gas data obtained by frequently measuring the gas amount in a gas container installed at a gas supply destination;
A function of calculating a gas outage estimation date using gas amount setting information determined according to gas price information and the gas data, and generating gas supply instruction information based on the gas outage estimation date;
Is realized by the computer.

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